REPORT
Three essays that address some of the challenges associated with improving the flexibility of National Security Space capabilities.
PERIODICAL
This RAND Review cover story describes RAND's research and analysis of sexual orientation and U.S. military personnel policy relating to the likely repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'
REPORT
Orbital debris represents a threat to the operation of man-made objects in space, such as satellite television and weather satellites. Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of objects greater than one centimeter in diameter in Earth's orbit.
COMMENTARY
Celestial real estate is increasingly popular. All in all more than 900 satellites, along with tens of thousands of bits of man-made space detritus, jockey for elbow room overhead. The result: a growing threat our atmosphere will soon become so crowded with floating junk as to become almost unusable, write Caroline Reilly and Peter D. Zimmerman.
REPORT
Why have the costs of acquiring space systems been so high? What are the sources of the problems? To answer these questions, RAND researchers examined the sources of cost growth of Air Force space systems and undertook an extensive study of two space systems.
REPORT
Since the Global Positioning System (GPS) was originally deployed to aid U.S. armed forces in navigation and position location, it has evolved into a resource supporting civil, scientific, and commercial functions—from air traffic control to the Internet—with precision location and timing information.
REPORT
Space assets are vital to the economic, social, and military interests of the United States, but these interests can conflict with one another, especially when it comes to space system sustainment. The authors worked with Air Force Space Command to develop a sustainment philosophy based on separation of demand, supply, and integrator processes and clear definition of responsibilities, using specific systems and units for illustration.
REPORT
As space systems age, the U.S. Air Force Space Command needs to understand how budgeting for the maintenance and sustainment of ground segments affects the performance of their associated space systems. New metrics and models can help this process.
REPORT
This monograph presents findings of a RAND Project AIR FORCE research project documenting lessons learned by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and other Department of Defense (DoD) cost analysis and acquisition community members from the implementation of evolutionary acquisition (EA) strategies for major Air Force defense space acquisition programs. In May 2003, DoD mandated EA strategies relying on spiral development as the preferred approach to…
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff: Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud, in International Herald Tribune.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Presents a thumbnail history of the RAND Corporation, emphasizing its early accomplishments.
COMMENTARY
The Atlantic Monthly Magazine features a compilation of ten short essays written by experts at RAND, collectively titled Headlines Over the Horizon. The RAND authors examined developments in international and military affairs drawing little attention today that are expected to be major issues in the next three to five years.
REPORT
The Department of Defense does not own all the satellite communications capacity it needs worldwide and must purchase capacity from commercial vendors. Understanding what contributes to growth in satellite communications capacity and predicting that growth would be useful to planners in their decisions to lease or buy capacity. The author shows that the market can adjust swiftly to a surge in demand, and thus there may be little need to…
REPORT
The Department of Defense needs far more satellite communications capacity than it owns and thus must lease satellite communications services. Communications planners can use the "rule of thumb" set forth in this study to aid in making efficient satellite leasing decisions in the face of uncertain demand for satellite services. It is a simple, graphical technique. Extensions to the basic model show how price uncertainty and the ability…
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
REPORT
Wide access to satellite imagery and related products has expanded rapidly since the end of the Cold War.
REPORT
Assesses military use of commercial wideband satellites by evaluating their effectiveness across several characteristics defined by the United States Space Command.
REPORT
As of the end of 1997, the U.S. had cooperative agreements with 76 countries and six multinational organizations covering the operations of 32 active satellites. This report catalogs the agreements and assesses the extent of interagency coordination.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based signal providing precise timing, location, and velocity information. Just as any number of receivers can tune into a commercial TV or radio station, there is no limit on the number of people who can use GPS.
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